Fence Regulations in Chatham County, GA (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Chatham County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
In unincorporated Chatham County, residential walls and fences may not exceed 6 feet in front and side yards or 8 feet in rear yards. Inside the City of Savannah, the NewZO caps most residential fences at 4 feet in the front yard and 8 feet in rear and interior side
Chatham County Residential Fence Height Limits
Some RestrictionsChatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5-1.3(a)
Height: Within residential districts, walls and fences shall not exceed six feet in height in front and side yards, nor eight feet in height in rear yards.
Fence Permit Requirements
Yes. In unincorporated Chatham County, Sec. 5-1.1 of the zoning ordinance flatly requires a building permit for any wall or fence: 'No wall or fence shall be erected or constructed without a building permit.' Temporary construction-site fences may be approved separately for under 18 months.
Do You Need a Permit for a Fence in Chatham County?
Some RestrictionsChatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5-1.1
Required Permits. No wall or fence shall be erected or constructed without a building permit.
Neighbor Fence Rules
Chatham County's zoning ordinance regulates safety and visibility, not cost-sharing. Sec. 5-1.5 bars any fence that violates vision-clearance (sight-triangle) requirements, and Sec. 5-1.2 prohibits a fence within 5 feet of a parallel existing structure or one that blocks light, air or emergency access. Cost disputes are private civil matters.
Fences, Property Lines and Visibility in Chatham County
Some RestrictionsChatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5-1.5
Visibility. No wall or fence or similar structure shall be constructed or erected in a manner which violates the vision clearance requirements of these regulations.
Retaining Walls
Chatham County's fence regulations expressly do not restrict necessary retaining walls: Sec. 5-1 states the wall-and-fence rules 'shall not prohibit the construction of any necessary retaining wall.' A retaining wall is still a structure, so a building permit under Sec. 5-1.1 and any engineering required by the building code still
Retaining Walls in Chatham County
Some RestrictionsChatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5-1
These regulations shall not prohibit the construction of any necessary retaining wall nor waive compliance with buffer and screening requirements contained elsewhere in these regulations.
Material Restrictions
Chatham County Sec. 5-1.3(c) lists the fence materials allowed in residential districts: chain link or other fence wire, decorative wrought iron, masonry, wood, or other materials customarily found within residential areas. Whatever the choice, the fence must be visually compatible with the neighborhood.
Approved Fence Materials in Chatham County
Some RestrictionsChatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5-1.3(c)
Walls and fences shall be constructed of chain link or other fence wire..., decorative wrought iron, masonry, wood or other materials customarily found within residential areas and shall be designed and constructed so as to be visually compatible with the neighborhood.
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